Dispensing head for a machine for making beverages with single-dose capsules, and machine comprising said dispensing head

ABSTRACT

The dispensing head comprises an infusion chamber constituted by at least one first portion ( 21 ), in which a seat for single-dose capsules (C) is set, and one second, closing, portion ( 23 ) of the infusion chamber. The dispensing head also comprises an oscillating expeller ( 51 ), set between the first and the second portions ( 21, 23 ) of the infusion chamber, which engages the capsule (C) inserted in said infusion chamber to cause expulsion thereof when the infusion chamber is opened. The expeller comprises an appendage ( 51  D) shaped so as to engage the capsule from the bottom and lift it from the infusion chamber.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to improvements to machines for makingespresso coffee or other beverages or foodstuffs starting from capsules,typically single-dose capsules. More in particular, the presentinvention relates to improvements to the dispensing head of a machine ofthis type.

STATE OF THE ART

For making beverages via extraction with water from single-dosecapsules, various machines are known which comprise an infusion chamberprovided with two portions that are mobile with respect to one another,in which typically one of the two forms the seat for housing thesingle-dose capsules whilst the other provides for closing of theinfusion chamber. The conformation of the dispensing head of theinfusion chamber depends upon the type and conformation of thesingle-dose capsules containing the substance with which the beverage isto be made. Opening and closing of the infusion chamber can be obtainedwith mechanisms of various types, also according to how automatic themachine in which the infusion head is inserted actually is. Usuallyextractor or expeller members are also provided for expelling ordischarging the exhausted capsule after dispensing the beverage.

Examples of dispensing heads with an oscillatory movement of opening andclosing of the infusion chamber are described in US-A-2002/0002913 andUS-A-2003/0056655. Described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,353 is an infusionsystem with an oscillating expeller or extractor for discharging theexhausted capsules. The oscillation of the expeller is controlled by themovement of opening of the infusion chamber.

EP-A-1669011 discloses an infusion head for making espresso coffeestarting from single-dose capsules according to the preamble of claim 1.Said dispensing head comprises an infusion chamber shaped with a firstportion in which the seat for receiving the single-dose capsule orcartridge is provided and a second, closing, portion of the infusionchamber. The two portions are mobile with an opening and closingoscillation movement. Set between the two portions is an oscillatingexpeller that engages the capsule inserted in the infusion chamber tobring about expulsion thereof when the infusion chamber is opened. Atthe moment of opening of the infusion chamber, the expeller istemporarily constrained to the top mobile portion of the infusionchamber, so that, when the infusion chamber is opened via oscillationupwards of the top portion of the chamber itself, the expeller is drawnupwards and causes exit of the capsule from its seat into the bottompart of the infusion chamber, engaging it along a circular flange thatsurrounds the top surface of the capsule. The capsule slides then alongguide surfaces of the oscillating expeller member and drops into anunderlying collection area.

The above known dispensing head presents the drawback of enabling useonly of capsules provided with a flange portion of adequate diameter,necessary to engage the capsule via the oscillating expeller.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide adispensing head of the type described above that can use also capsuleswith other shapes.

Substantially, according to the invention, for using capsules that donot have a flanged edge, or else that have an edge with a flange ofradial dimensions that are too small to be engaged by an oscillatingexpeller of the type described for example in EP-A-1669011, according tothe invention it is envisaged that the expeller be provided with anappendage shaped so as to engage the single-dose capsule from the bottomof the capsule itself. The appendage sets itself adjacent to the bottomof the seat made in the first portion of the infusion chamber when thecapsule is inserted in the chamber, and the latter is closed forproceeding to extraction of the beverage. When the infusion chamber isopened, the expeller oscillates upwards and draws along with it theexhausted capsule pushing it from the bottom by means of said appendage.

Further advantageous features and embodiments of the dispensing headaccording to the invention are indicated in the attached claims and willbe described in greater detail in what follows with reference to anon-limiting example of embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more readily understood from the ensuingdescription and the attached drawings, which show a practicalnon-limiting embodiment of the invention. More in particular, in thedrawings:

FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a dispensing headaccording to the invention in the closed configuration;

FIG. 1B shows the dispensing head of FIG. 1A in the step of opening;

FIG. 1C shows the head of FIGS. 1A and 1B in a step of discharging theexhausted capsule, with the infusion chamber almost completely open;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the infusion chamber in a position almostcompletely open;

FIG. 3 is an axonometric view of the expeller separated from theremaining parts of the dispensing head;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the seat of the capsulemade in the bottom portion of the infusion chamber;

FIG. 5 is an axonometric view of a part of the bottom portion of theinfusion chamber and corresponding seat for receiving the capsule;

FIG. 6 is an external axonometric view of the bottom portion of theinfusion chamber; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a coffee machine or the like comprising adispensing head according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In what follows, the invention will be described with particularreference to an application thereof to a machine for making espressocoffee, but it is to be understood that the principles underlying theinvention can be used also in other types of machines in which similarproblems can arise. In general, the present invention can be applied toany machine designed for preparation of beverages or other foodstuffsstarting from single-dose capsules that are to be inserted in aninfusion chamber and subsequently extracted therefrom and discharged.

FIG. 7 shows very schematically a machine 1 for making espresso coffeecomprising a base 3, an upright 5, and a dispensing head 7 configuredaccording to the invention. The parts of the machine 1 not described indetail herein are in themselves known and not important for the purposesof the present invention.

The dispensing head 7, instead, and in particular the device forextracting the exhausted capsules, is described in detail in whatfollows with reference to FIGS. 1A to 6.

In particular, with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 2, in aparticularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the dispensinghead 7 comprises a first portion 21 fixed with respect to the upright 5and a second portion 23 articulated in 25 to the portion 21 about asubstantially horizontal axis. The portion 23 can assume a closedconfiguration (FIG. 1A) and an open configuration (FIG. 2).

The two portions 21, 23 define an infusion chamber. In the bottomportion 21 is provided a seat 27 for single-dose capsules C used formaking the beverage, for example coffee. The seat 27 has a conformationsubstantially having the shape of a truncated cone with a bottom andside walls appropriately shaped for receiving an expeller of theexhausted capsules C, as will be described in greater detail here below.In the bottom of the seat 27 a perforator (not shown) can be arranged,received in a housing 29 surrounded by an annular projection thatprojects from the bottom of the seat 27, for perforating the bottom ofthe capsule C. In a way in itself known, the perforator is provided witha channel for outlet of the beverage. Not excluded is the possibility ofusing capsules with an open bottom, which do not require a perforator,or else capsules with a point of pre-failure that can be opened as aresult of the pressure of the water that is introduced within them via atop perforator or in some other suitable way.

The top oscillating portion 23 of the infusion chamber carries anassembly 31 for perforation and for dispensing water, e.g. hot waterunder pressure, within the capsule C when the latter is housed in theseat 27 and the infusion chamber defined by the portions 21 and 23 isclosed. With particular reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, the perforationand dispensing assembly 31 comprises a permeable perforator 33 incommunication with a duct 35, connected to which is a pipe (not shown)for supplying water under pressure. Set around the perforator 33 is aslider 37, upon which a pressure is exerted elastically by a compressionspring 39 to press against the top edge B of a capsule C that is locatedin the infusion chamber (FIG. 1A).

In some embodiments of the invention, developing around the tip of thehollow perforator 33 is a cylindrical element 41, which surrounds aprojecting area or shank S made in the closing top of the capsule C,said shank being perforated by the perforator 33 when the infusionchamber is closed by oscillating the oscillating portion 23 downwardstowards the fixed portion 31. It must be understood that the design ofthe perforator 33 and of the area that surrounds it can vary to adapt tothe shape of the top surface of the single-dose capsule C to which theparticular dispensing head 7 is to be applied.

In some embodiments, the head has a mechanism for closing the infusionchamber, designated as a whole by 45. The closing device 45 can be thesame as or equivalent to what is described in EP-A-1669011, which isintegrally incorporated in the present description by reference and towhich reference can be made for further constructional details. It isadvantageous here to note that the closing device 45 has teeth 47 whichengage in retention elements 49 that are fixed with respect to the fixedportion 21 of the infusion chamber.

Set between the fixed part 21 and the mobile part 23, which are hingedto one another about the axis 25, is an expeller 51 for extracting theexhausted capsules C from the seat 27 of the infusion chamber and fordischarging them downwards along a chute 53. According to anadvantageous embodiment, the chute 53 is made of a single piece with theportion 21.

The expeller 51 is shown in isolation in axonometric view in FIG. 3.According to a preferred embodiment, said expeller 51 is articulatedabout the same axis 25 about which the mobile portion 23 of thedispensing head 7 oscillates. Designated by 55 are teeth, arranged inthe proximity of through holes 57 for engagement to the oscillationpivot, with which the expeller 51 temporarily engages appendages 59,which are fixed with respect to the oscillating portion 23 of theinfusion chamber, so that raising of the portion 23 with oscillatorymovement about the axis 25 entails an oscillation upwards also of theexpeller 51. The configuration of the appendages 59 and of the teeth 55is such that, once a certain inclination that guarantees discharge bygravity of the capsules C is reached, the expeller 51 is released fromthe appendages 59 and drops back into its bottom position to rest uponthe fixed portion 21 of the infusion chamber 21, 23. This mechanism oftemporary engagement of the expeller 51 to the top oscillating mobileportion 23 of the infusion chamber is in itself known and described inEP-A-1669011.

As may be noted in particular in FIG. 3, according to an advantageousembodiment, the expeller 51 has a fork-like or U-shaped conformationterminating with the two arms 51A, in which the holes 57 with which theexpeller 51 engages the axis of oscillation 25 are made. According to anadvantageous embodiment, the expeller 51 has an arched portion 51B,which joins the arms 51A and forms with these a single body.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, fixed with respectto the arched portion 51B of the expeller 51 is a member for engagementof the capsules, designated by 51C and developing downwards and shapedso as to engage underneath the capsule C that is inserted in the seat 27of the infusion head.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the engagement member 51C has ashape with a wall having a portion shaped like a truncated cone 51D, theinternal surface of which substantially coincides as regards its shapeand dimensions with the external side surface of the capsules Q designedfor the specific dispensing head 7. According to an advantageousembodiment, extending from the bottom semicircular edge 51E of the wallhaving the shape of a truncated cone 51D is an appendage 51F having adevelopment like the sector of an annulus, the external diameter ofwhich is approximately equal to the diameter of the bottom base of thecapsule C.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the appendage 51F shaped likethe sector of an annulus has a development of approximately 180° andleaves at the centre an ample free semicircular area having the purposesclarified hereinafter.

Basically, then, the engagement member 51C formed by the portions 51Dand 51F has a shape that copies the external surface of a part of thecapsule C for embracing the latter laterally and from beneath for thepurpose of extracting it from the infusion chamber, and moreparticularly from the seat 27 of the latter, at the end of the infusionprocess in order to discharge the exhausted capsule and enable insertionin the seat 27 of a new capsule.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, in order toprevent the appendage 51F shaped like the sector of an annulus and thepartial wall having the shape of a truncated cone 51D fixed with respectthereto from interfering with the seat 27 and/or with the capsule C, theinternal surface of the seat 27 has a retracted side area 27A, insertedwithin which is the wall having the shape of a truncated cone 51D of theexpeller 51 when the latter is in the closing position (FIG. 1A). Alsothe bottom of the seat 27 of the infusion chamber has a conformationsuitable for preventing any interference between the appendage 51Fshaped like the sector of an annulus and the capsule C and/or the bottomof the seat 27. As may be noted in particular in FIGS. 4 and 5, thebottom designated by 27F of the seat 27 has a lowered portion 27F′ ofshape and dimensions such as to receive the appendage 51F shaped likethe sector of an annulus of the expeller 51. It may be noted inparticular in FIG. 1A that, when the infusion chamber is closed with thecapsule C within the seat 27, the wall 51D and the appendage 51F shapedlike the sector of an annulus of the expeller 51 are housed in theadditional space made in the portion 27A and in the lowered area 27F′,respectively of the conical side wall and of the bottom of the seat 27.

The edge of the seat 27 is shaped in 27B (see in particular FIGS. 4 and6) in such a way as to receive the curved portion 51B of radiusingbetween the arms 51A of the oscillating expeller 51. In this way, whenthe infusion chamber is in the closing position, the top surface of theexpeller 51 does not interfere with the action of the elastic slider 37that grips on the edge B of the capsule C.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, to facilitateexpulsion and discharge of the exhausted capsule C along the inlet ofthe seat 27 of the infusion chamber, a shaped projection 61 is provided(see in particular FIGS. 6 and 5). According to an advantageousembodiment, the projection 61 has in its central area a concave profile61A for interference with the lateral conical surface of the exhaustedcapsule C, when the latter is slid out of the seat 27 by means of theoscillating expeller 51.

Basically, as may be understood, for example, from FIG. 1B, during itsmovement of oscillation about the axis 25, the oscillating expeller 51raises the capsule C, supporting it from beneath and extracting it fromthe seat 27. The capsule tends to slide along the expeller and comesinto contact with the edge 61. Consequently, the capsule C, byinterfering with the edge 61, is subject to a pushing action whichcauses it to turn upside down and to fall into the empty space betweenthe two arms 51A of the expeller 51 and then onto the chute 53, whichdischarges the capsules into an underlying container (not shown).

It is understood that the drawings merely show a possible example ofembodiment of the invention, which can undergo variations in the formsand arrangements, without thereby departing from the scope of the ideaunderlying the invention. The possible presence of reference numbers inthe annexed claims has the purpose of facilitating reading of the claimswith reference to the description and the drawings, and in no way limitsthe scope of protection represented by the claims.

1. A dispensing head for a beverage making machine using capsulescontaining at least one substance from which to obtain said beveragesvia infusion or dissolution in water, the dispensing head comprising: aninfusion chamber comprising a first portion having a seat for saidcapsules, and a second portion, said second portion and said firstportion being mobile with respect to one another for closing saidinfusion chamber; and an oscillating expeller, set between said firstportion and said second portion, which engages the capsule inserted insaid infusion chamber to cause expulsion thereof when said infusionchamber is opened, and which has at least an articulation arm pivotedabout an oscillation axis, wherein said expeller comprises an appendageshaped to engage said capsule from the bottom thereof, said appendagemoving adjacent to the bottom of the seat in said first portion of theinfusion chamber, the capsule being inserted in the seat above saidappendage, said appendage being connected to said expeller via a curvedwall, with a concave surface of contact with said capsules, said curvedwall extending from said expeller towards said bottom of the seat.
 2. Adispensing head according to claim 1, wherein said expeller has aU-shaped conformation, with a first articulation arm and a secondarticulation arm pivoting about said oscillation axis, wherein saidfirst and second arms are joined to one another by an intermediatearched portion, wherein said curved wall is connected to said archedportion.
 3. A dispensing head according to claim 1, wherein said firstand second portions of the chamber are provided with a reciprocatingmovement of oscillation, and wherein there is provided a member oftemporary constraint between said expeller and said second portion ofthe infusion chamber, via which the expeller is temporarily connected tothe second portion of the infusion chamber during the movement ofopening of the infusion chamber, to cause oscillation of the expellerwith respect to the first portion of the infusion chamber.
 4. Adispensing head according to claim 1, wherein said curved wall has asubstantially conical shape.
 5. A dispensing head according to claim 1,wherein said appendage has a shape approximating the sector of anannulus, which engages the bottom of the capsules along the edge of saidbottom, leaving a central portion of the capsule free.
 6. A dispensinghead according to claim 1, wherein said seat for the capsules has abottom with a lowered portion within which said appendage is housed whenthe infusion chamber is closed.
 7. A dispensing head according to claim6, wherein the bottom of said seat has an annular projection, saidlowered portion being made on the outside of said annular projection. 8.A dispensing head according to claim 6, wherein said seat has a sidewall with a retracted area, within which said curved wall of theexpeller is housed.
 9. A dispensing head according to claim 1, whereinmade along a top edge of said seat is a projection set in the area ofsaid edge closer to the axis of oscillation of the expeller, tofacilitate overturning of the capsules extracted via said expeller fromsaid seat.
 10. A dispensing head according to claim 9, furthercomprising a chute for discharging the exhausted capsules underneathsaid projection.
 11. A machine for making a beverage from single-dosecapsules, the machine comprising a dispensing head, said dispensing headcomprising: an infusion chamber comprising a first portion having a seatfor said capsules and a second portion said second portion and saidfirst portion being mobile with respect to one another for closing saidinfusion chamber; and an oscillating expeller, set between said firstportion and said second portion which engages the capsule inserted insaid infusion chamber to cause expulsion thereof when said infusionchamber is opened and which has at least an articulation arm pivotedabout an oscillation axis wherein said expeller comprises an appendageshaped to engage said capsule from the bottom thereof said appendagemoving adjacent to the bottom of the seat in said first portion of theinfusion chamber the capsule being inserted in the seat above saidappendage said appendage being connected to said expeller via a curvedwall with a concave surface of contact with said capsules said curvedwall extending from said expeller towards said bottom of the seat.
 12. Adispensing head according to claim 2, wherein said first and secondportions of the chamber are provided with a reciprocating movement ofoscillation, and wherein there is provided a member of temporaryconstraint between said expeller and said second portion of the infusionchamber, via which the expeller is temporarily connected to the secondportion of the infusion chamber during the movement of opening of theinfusion chamber, to cause oscillation of the expeller with respect tothe first portion of the infusion chamber.
 13. A dispensing headaccording to claim 2, wherein said curved wall has a substantiallyconical shape.
 14. A dispensing head according to claim 3, wherein saidcurved wall has a substantially conical shape.
 15. A dispensing headaccording to claim 2, wherein said appendage has a shape approximatingthe sector of an annulus, which engages the bottom of the capsules alongthe edge of said bottom, leaving a central portion of the capsule free.